In-house lawyers are always on the go, a mobility that sometimes means leaving the safety and security of company Wi-Fi.

But lawyers seeking internet outside of company walls should steer clear of public Wi-Fi, highlighted by the Department of Justice's indictment of Russian hackers last week. The hackers used hotel Wi-Fi networks to compromise laptops and steal passwords and other private data belonging to Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials.

Cybersecurity experts say there are a number of ways in-house counsel can prevent similar hacks from impacting their company. Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr partner Sandy Bilus, who focuses on cybersecurity and privacy, offers an easy first step.

“Stay off public Wi-Fi networks,” Bilus said. “That would include hotel Wi-Fi, airport Wi-Fi, those hotspots that are out and about that you can sometimes find out in the world. If you can avoid it, do.”

That can be difficult for lawyers working on the go or out of office. While the hotel or coffee shop Wi-Fi might be the easiest internet source available, sensitive company information is at risk.

Adam Levin, the chairman and founder of identity and data protection company CyberScout, said there are steps corporate counsel can take to be safer when working in public.

“There are ways you can help prevent things like that. First: long and strong passwords,” Levin said. He suggested using a password master system and two-factor authentication, avoiding clicking on any links and using company virtual private networks.

“Have a personal hotspot, so you're not relying on the Wi-Fi system of that conference center or that hotel to have access to the internet,” he added.

But it's not just about ensuring in-house lawyers keep private data secure.

“One of the roles of in-house counsel is to reduce the risk faced by the company, and an important way to do that is to reduce your cybersecurity risk,” Bilus said. “So in-house counsel should be working hand and hand with an information security team or IT team to tell its employees about the dangers of using public Wi-Fi networks. That can be done through regular trainings, seminars and email reminders.”

Doug DePeppe, founder of eosedge Legal, said companies should provide traveling employees with mobile hotspots so they're not forced to rely on public or semi-public Wi-Fi. He also noted the importance of a company cybersecurity plan, which in-house lawyers can help create, and internal policies around employee use of public Wi-Fi.

Levin noted the importance of ensuring vendors have privacy policies and strong cybersecurity measures in place as well.

If companies don't take reasonable cybersecurity steps and wind up hacked, it's possible they could be held liable by the Federal Trade Commission, Bilus said.

“Because it is fairly well known, the dangers of using public Wi-Fi, I think that if in-house counsel are not helping to guard against those risks, then it makes it more likely the company will be exposed to liability if there is a breach because of somebody's use of public Wi-Fi,” he said.